Bradcast_050716: Tablify your notebook!
Submitted by bradg on Mon, 07/18/2005 - 10:30
Today the Bradcast (thebradcast attt gmail.com) talks about turning an existing notebook computer into a pseudo-tablet PC. This podcast was recorded entirely inside of OneNote. I'll talk about:
1) How I did it
2) What the differences are between my assimilated tablet and the real thing
3) Using OneNote with my Wacom tablet
4) Finding a OneNote work-a-like -- the amazing EverNote
No music today in the show, so no music credits to give. Blogs referred to in this podcast: Robert Scoble, the king of tablet advocacy.
Don't forget to send your comments to get yourself entered into the draw for the www.techpodcasts.com t-shirt.
The pen interface is one of the last great, next big things but I think it's finally ready for primetime. The trouble is the average computer user does not seem to care; sales for tablets utilizing the XP Tablet Edition have not been overwhelming. If you are like me and want to try pen functionality on your note book without having to second mortgage your house, have a listen. I'll be returning to this theme frequently in up-coming shows, so stay tuned on the progress -- or lack of -- I make with my Bradcast Tablet PC.
| Attachment | Size |
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| Bradcast_050716.mp3 | 14.95 MB |
(c) copyright 2009 by Bradford Gibson. Almost all rights reserved. Citation for journalistic, academic or weblog use is permitted with attribution.
EverNote is FREE
Brad: thanks for your insights into a borgified latop/tablet, 1Note, and EverNote
One thing worth mentioning about EverNote: it's FREE if you don't mind missing out on the handwriting recognition. You can still do digital ink, but you can't designate it as representing text (so you can use a tablet to draw shapes or to write non-searchable letters).
FREE. Not a trial. Free forever if you download it now. For a version with everything except handwriting recognition. Which most people almost certainly aren't even going to use if they have a desktop or normal laptop (notwithstanding your experiments in adding a drawing tablet).
It's only the Plus version that has the free trial and costs money.
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I just downloaded EN and I'm already comfortable with it. I'm currently moving all of my "loose" information into EN (random to-do lists, other things that would otherwise be in txt files on my desktop, etc.). It's intuitive and easy to use once you get past the steep learning curve (because there are so many features--all of them useful). It's hard to understand just how powerful EverNote's search capabilities and automatic categorization are until you download it and see for yourself.
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OneNote is still good for recording lectures, but I don't think I'd use it for much else. I would export the lectures as .one files (by using "save as" in 1N) and then making hyperlinks to those files in EverNote (so clicking on the hyperlink in a note in EN will open 1N to view just that lecture).
wacom tablets
Hi -- appreciated your show on Wacom tablet + laptop. A question: did you have a chance to try out the 4x5 inch Graphire3? Was it in fact unusably small, or are you assuming that based on your use of the 6x8 tablet? Also, how was it to get used to navigating using the pen? Do you find it substituting for the mouse at times? My big obstacle to trying this out is being unable to visualize how pen input on a separate surface from the screen would work -- how was the learning curve?
Thanks,
Michael
Michael; thanks for the
Michael; thanks for the comment and the questions. All of these topics are going to be covered in an upcoming Bradcast, but here are my quick answers.
1) I went with the 6x8 based on assumptions. The Wacom software allows you to reduce the useable area of the tablet and when I shrunk it down to about a 4x5 area as a test, it was still reasonable to use for typical office apps.
2) Navigating with the pen is funky at first. You can actually hover the pen tip over the pad and move the cursor. You definitely do not want to use the pen as a mouse all the time, that's why its great that they included a wireless mouse with the Graphire.
3) It will take a couple of hours of practice to learn how to write on the pad and watch on the screen. Experiment heavily with pad location for your writing style -- that is the key. Also learn how to use the notebook pointer on your notebook with your free hand, that makes it a very interesting experience. To get the best mileage out of the handwriting recognition software write cursively, printing is harder for it to figure out.
Brad Gibson
Brad your evernote segment
Brad your evernote segment totally rocked. I really enjoy your show and style period. I downloaded evernote and I'm starting to use it.
I'd love to get the audion for it and plug that part of the show or you do a special segment of it for my user for my Podcast. Great podcast, great job, and sign me up for any contests
Victor
www.typicalpcuser.com
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